The Second Sunday of Advent

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2 The First Nativity Scene The Second Sunday of Advent Nativity scenes are set up everywhere during Christmas. The first person who thought of this idea was St. Francis. In 1223, St. Francis wanted to help people relive the miraculous moment of the first Christmas, so he thought about creating the nativity scene. With the Pope s permission, St. Francis created a living nativity scene. He used a wax figure for Baby Jesus. Costumed people played Mary, Joseph and other biblical characters. St. Francis even borrowed a donkey and an ox from his friends to place at the scene. Two interesting things happened. The first was during St. Francis preaching about Jesus. When he talked about the poverty that Jesus was born into, he was so emotional that he could not utter the name of Jesus. Second, was the miracle about hay being used for the nativity scene. Afterward, people saved the hay to feed the cattle because they did not want to waste it. The hay that the cattle ate miraculously healed them from all diseases and pestilences. Why did the miracle happen when St. Francis built the nativity scene? I think it was because God wanted to reward St. Francis and the people for trying to remember his birth. I am sure that if we prepare ourselves wholeheartedly to welcome Jesus into our heart during this Advent season, Jesus will bless us in a special way. Let us build a nativity scene not only in our home, but in our hearts as well Fr. Dat Luong, Parochial Vicar An Investment in Your Parish For many years our Catholic parishes & schools have benefited from the charitable gifts of appreciated property from many good and generous people. Year-end giving becomes an important consideration for many people in these last weeks of the year The knowledge that your gifts are assisting and advancing the mission of the Catholic Church can bring about tremendous good in our world. If you are able to make a gift of appreciated stock, properties, or cash, while reducing your tax liability, please contact Chuck Tully (ctully@dsj.org) or (650) Z z Please Pray For the Sick & Homebound Fr. Thierry Geris, Terry Flynn, Jen Kush, Tina Reyes, Andrea Binger, Desmond Fitzgerald, Raissa Foka, Lydia Li, Della Scott, Joan Copenhagen, Tom Bednar, Renee Thompson, Leonard Jurgensen, Rosamila Agluba, Rodialo J. Nardo, Romulo de Grano, Maria Merlitti, Helene McKelvey, Msgr. Eugene Boyle, Stephen Lee, John Bertussi, Hanadi Pratt, Scott Simon, John Nittler For the Recently Deceased Mary Lee Hagen, Paul Reynoso, Carmen Fuentes, Gearailt Cummins, Kay Donahoo, Alice Lundin, Ed Olsen, Ron Bednar, Juan A. de Leon, Carmen Santa Gadea, Henrietta Ferry, Clem Duerr, Kathy Gibbs, Ed Lam, Jerry Feeley, Fred Carelli, Kate Church, Gary Stelle, Sr., Anne-Marie Kroeger, Jean Galvin, Gloria Carmichael, Alice McCarty Pray For Lists guidelines: Have permission from the person to be listed. Go through the Pastoral Home Ministry to list the names. Names will be on the list for 3 months and then be removed. Can request names to be continued after 3 months. Contact the Pastoral Home Ministry x22 or fongmt@hotmail.com Mass Intentions Sunday, December 6: 2nd Sunday of Advent 7:30 am STA...Joseph Koo 9:00 am SAG...Tsung Chai Koo 10:30 pm OLR...Bernice Ellis Readings: Baruch 5:1-9/Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6/Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11/Luke 3:1-6 Monday, December 7: St. Ambrose 8:30 am OLR...S. L. Encarnacion 12:15 pm STA...Ed Olsen Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10/Psalm 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14/Luke 5:17-26 Tuesday, December 8: Immaculate Conception 7:15 am STA...For All Parishioners 8:30 am OLR...For All Parishioners Readings: Gen 3:9-15, 20/Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12/Luke 1:26-38 Wednesday, December 9: St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin 8:30 am OLR...Brian Franklin 12:15 pm STA...Vince Giovannotto Readings: Isaiah 40:25-31/Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10/Matthew 11:28-30 Thursday, December 10 8:30 am OLR...Lawrence Lo 12:15 pm STA...All Souls Readings: Isaiah 41:13-20/Psalm 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab/Matthew 11:11-15 Friday, December 11: St. Damascus 8:30 am OLR...Alice McCarty 12:15 pm STA...Baltazar Jumaoas Readings: Isaiah 48:17-19/Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6/Matthew 11:16-19 Saturday, December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe 12:15pm STA...Deceased Members of the Hidalgo Family 5:00 pm SAG...Joanne Maher and nate Maher Readings: Zech 2:14-17 or Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Judith 13:18bcde, 19/Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47 Sunday, December 13: 3rd Sunday of Advent 10:30 pm OLR...Edward Lam Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a/Isaiah 12:2-6/Philippians 4:4-7/Luke 3:10-18 Congratulations! Congratulations to Fr. Stasys who celebrates the 10th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood. We pray that he will experience many blessings in his years of ministry as a priest.

3 St. Thomas Aquinas Parish This Week s Highlights Sunday, December 6 9:15 am...regular FF Class (ISPSchl) 9:15 am...parent Class (OLRH) 10:15 am...regular FF Class (SESS) 10:15 am...parent Class (SES Aud) 10:30 am...catechesis Pre-Conf. & 1st nd Year (DC) 10:30 am... Catechesis K-6 & Adult (ISP) 2:00 pm...the Christmas Story (SESAud) 4:00 pm...the EDGE (DC) 6:00 pm...lifeteen Monday, December 7 7:00 pm...rcia (SAGH) 7:00 pm...tmc Liturgy Comm (THLib) 7:00 pm...sbsc (PC1st) 7:00 pm...lectors Mtg & Practice (OLR) Tuesday, December 8 See Mass Schedule in article to right. 7:00 pm...spanish Baptism (OLRH) 7:00 pm...hispanic Prayer Group (DC) 7:30 pm...knights of Columbus (THB) Wednesday, December 9 6:00 pm...rcia for Children (DC) 7:00 pm...psc Meeting (OLRH) Thursday, December 10 10:00 am...prayer Group (SAGH) 7:00 pm...hisp 1st Communion Catechesis (PC1st & 2nd) 7:30 pm... Gregorian Choir (STA, THB) Friday, December 11 1:00 pm...our Lady of Guadalupe setup (OLRH) 6:00 pm...goretti Group (STA, THB) 7:30 pm...hisp. Young Adults (KC) Saturday, December 12 8:00 am...environment (OLR) 9:00 am...liturgy Board Mtg (SAGH) 9:00 am...mananitas (OLR/OLRH) 9:30 am...pageant Rehearsal (SAG) 11:00 am...cantonese Scripture (PC1st) 11:30 am...pageant Rehearsal (OLR) 3:00 pm.....confirmation Session (SAGH) Presider Schedule 3rd Sunday of Advent Dec 13, 2015 St. Albert the Great 1095 Channing Ave. Sat 5:00 pm... Fr. Luong Sun 9:00 am... Fr. Luong Sun 11:00 am (Byzantine) Fr. Hernandez St. Thomas Aquinas 751 Waverley St. Sun 7:30 am... Fr. Hester Sun 8:45 am... Fr. Izzo, S.J. Sun 10:30 am Fr. Stanley Sun 12:00 pm (Latin)... TBD Our Lady of the Rosary 3233 Cowper St. Sun 9:00 am (Spanish)... Fr. Mikalonis Sun 10:30 am Fr. Valenton Immaculate Conception - Holy Day Of Obligation On Tuesday, December 8, the Church invites all Catholics to gather to celebrate the Eucharist in praise of the goodness of God who preserved Mary, the Mother of Jesus, from Original Sin at the first moment of her conception. Our Mass schedule for the day is as follows: December 8th at 7:15am, 12:15pm, 8:00pm (St. Thomas Aquinas Church); 8:30am & 7:00pm Spanish (Our Lady of the Rosary Church); 10:00am & 7:00pm (St. Albert the Great Church). Sacrificial Giving Intention Cards - Report #4 Thanks to the 86 parishioners who turned in their Sacrificial Giving Intention Cards totaling $2,811 each week to the Sunday Offertory 26 Families have pledged $1 -$10 per week 32 Families have pledged $11-$25 per week 18 Families have pledged $26-$50 per week 5 Families have pledged $51-$75 per week 1 Families have pledged $76-$100 per week 4 Families have pledged over $100 per week Average weekly pledge is $32.68 Don t Forget to Bring Your Sacrificial Giving Intention Cards to Mass Next Sunday. Giving Trees Giving Trees are now in our churches. A gift is listed on the tags to be given to a deserving or needy child or family. Take a tag or two and bring back that gift, unwrapped, to put under our Giving Tree. Gifts go to families in our area who will have a Merry Christmas due to your generosity! Annual Christmas Pageant We invite all children who would like to be a part of our Christmas Pageant during the Gospel at the 5 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve at both Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Albert the Great to sign up to be a part of our story. We need angels and shepherds and others (Mary, Joseph, Innkeeper, Quirinius) to help bring the story to life. Again, we will do the drama in two parts: the first part will be on Christmas Eve and the second part will be on the Feast of Epiphany on January 4. You do not need to be in both dramas. If you are interested in being a part of our drama, please fill out a sign-up form (on the Faith Formation Bulletin Board) and return the lower portion to Susan at the Pastoral Center as soon as possible, or simply the information to Susan at suolsen@dsj.org. The form includes rehearsal information.

4 December 6, 2015 Weekly Stewardship Report November 23 (Week 21) Offertory by Mass: Sat, 5:00pm (SAG)....$935 Sun, 7:30am (STA)..$1,086 Sun, 8:45am (STA)....$853 Sun 9:00am (OLR)....$990 Sun 9:00am (SAG).. $2,004 Sun 10:30am (OLR). $2,498 Sun 10:30am (STA)... $308 Sun 12:00pm (STA)...$433 Online Giving......$2,000 Mail $660 2nd: CCHD $4,860 Total $11,767 Goal $11,500 Thank you for sharing November 29 (Week 22) Offertory by Mass: Sat, 5:00pm (SAG)....$826 Sun, 7:30am (STA)...$1,212 Sun, 8:45am (STA).... $656 Sun 9:00am (OLR)...$1,174 Sun 9:00am (SAG).... $991 Sun 10:30am (OLR). $2,489 Sun 10:30am (STA)... $803 Sun 12:00pm (STA)..$1,483 Online Giving $2,000 Mail $970 St. Vincent de Paul...$6,250 Total $12,604 Goal $11,500 God s Gifts! Christmas Poinsettias & Flowers We need your help in making our churches look beautiful for the Christmas Season. Won t you consider making a donation toward a poinsettia plant in remembrance of a loved one or just as a gift from you? Special Christmas Flower Envelopes are available in the vestibules or in the back of church. All of your gifts will be greatly appreciated. Liturgical Ministers Invited All Liturgical Ministers are invited to a gathering with renowned Liturgist, Composer, and Catechist, Janet Sullivan-Whittaker on January 9 from 9am-11:30am at St. Simon, 1860 Grant Rd, Los Altos. Green Corner Now that the cold weather is here, please help us reduce our parish carbon footprint by keeping the doors closed at all the church sites while the heaters are operating. It is a big help when all of us are vigilant. Advent Penance Liturgies & Confessions During Advent, to help you prepare for Christmas, here are some opportunities within our Deanery: Thur., Dec. 10 St. William, Los Altos 3:30 pm & 7:00 pm Mon., Dec. 14 St. Simon, Los Altos 3:30 pm & 7:00 pm Mon., Dec. 14 Our Lady of the Rosary 7:00 pm bilingual Tue., Dec. 15 St. Athanasius, Mt. View 7:00 pm bilingual Wed., Dec. 16 St. Albert the Great 7:00 pm

5 Welcome new parishioners to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish! We encourage you to register as members of our growing family. Please your name, address, and phone to Current members please contact the Pastoral Center to update your information. KEY REFERENCES DC... Dermody Center DCCh Dermody Center Chapel OLR.. Our Lady of the Rosary Church OLRH OLR Church Hall KC... OLR Kerry s Corner PC... Pastoral Center SAG.. St. Albert the Great Church SAGH SAG Hospitality Ctr. HOLY SACRAMENTS Please contact the Pastoral Center at for more information. Anointing of the Sick: By request or every first Monday of the month after the 7:15 am Mass. Every first Friday at the 8:30 am and 12:15pm Mass. Christian Initiation: Become a Catholic or renew your Catholic faith (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) as an adult, youth or child. Funeral: Arrange for a Funeral, Memorial Mass or graveside service for a loved one. Infant Baptism: Preparation may begin before or after the birth of your child. Marriage: Arrangements need to be made at least six months prior to the proposed marriage date. ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE STAFF, & COMMITTEES Main Phone: (650) Business & Operations Manager: Chuck Tully ext. 20 ctully@dsj.org Admin Assts: Cathy Miller ext. 24, camiller@dsj.org; Ron Aranha, raranha@dsj.org Pastoral Stewardship Council: (every 2nd Wed. 7:00 pm OLRH) Chair: Steve Carter (SCarter@ aslcpa.com); Vice-Chair: Anne Morrison (ahbert55@aol. com); Secretary: Gabe Kralik (gabekralik@thujaglobal.com) SESS.. St. Elizabeth Seton School SESA. SES Auditorium STA... St. Thomas Aquinas Church THB.. STA - Thomas House Basement THD.. STA - Thomas House Dining Room THL.. STA - Thomas House Library Community Life: Anne Morrison (650) Green Committee: Katia Reeves (katia.reeves@sbcglobal.net) Human Concerns Committee: Chair: Paul Chestnut (650) St. Vincent de Paul Society: (650) For truck donation pickup (650) Parish Site Committees: STA: Kay Williams ; OLR: Chris Lundin clundin@stanford.edu; SAG: Pat Briggs (650) ; Kathleen Hart (650) ; St. Elizabeth Seton School (Daughters of Charity): 1095 Channing Avenue (650) Principal: Evelyn Rosa Advancement Director: Danielle Ambler (650) STA Photography: (650) , photography@ paloaltocatholic.org PALOALTOPHOTOG/SpecialR1 Stanford Hospital Chaplaincy: Catholic Chaplain: Fr. Robert McKay (650) rmckay@ stanfordhealthcare.org Lucile Packard Children s Hospital Chaplaincy: Rev. Diana Brady (650) Widows/Widowers Group: Lorraine Dabney (650)